CULVER CITY, CA — Police in Culver City were out in force Tuesday to ensure security for voters — and completed ballots — as residents head to the polls for the presidential election.
The city activated its Emergency Operations Center for the day and said additional police officers have been assigned to the field “to work with all city resources and critical infrastructures within Culver City to ensure community safety.”
“The city of Culver City recognizes and values the rights of all members of the community to exercise their First Amendment Rights and will ensure these rights and liberties are protected … the community is encouraged to exercise these rights in a peaceful manner,” reads a city release.
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Similarly, the city of Los Angeles activated its Emergency Operations Center as a precautionary measure and to be prepared for any issues that might arise.
The Los Angeles Police Department also activated its Department Operations Center “and will have the maximum deployment on Election Day to ensure the safety of Angelenos and to hold people accountable for any unrest or destruction of property,” according to the mayor’s office.
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“LAPD is in coordination with our county, state, and federal partners — including the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Joint Regional Intelligence Center, and others — to share information across jurisdictions to ensure the safety of Angelenos on and after Election Day,” the mayor’s office stated.
The common theme from all agencies was for residents to be vigilant and to report any activity they consider suspicious.
“What I’m encouraging our community to do is if you see something, say something,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in an appearance on NBC4. “Do not fall for misinformation. If you read something make sure to check it out because there are foreign actors who are putting out misinformation that want us to go against each other.”
Luna said sheriff’s deputies would be out in force Tuesday, noting that the department “is responsible for ballot security and transportation, so you’ll see us heavily involved in that in itself.”
City News Service contributed to this report.
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